Strong Research Environment and Supportive Academic Community at Virginia Tech

Applied into:-  Arizona State University - Accepted University at Buffalo – Accepted North Carolina State University - Accepted Pennsylvania State University - Accepted University of Florida - Accepted with scholarship Virginia Tech - Accepted Ohio State University - Rejected University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) - Rejected University of Colorado Boulder - Rejected University of Southern California - Rejected Texas A&M - Rejected I believe the primary reason I wasn't accepted into the colleges I applied to is that my undergraduate GPA was fairly average (8.0/10). There were also other factors at play. My GRE score of 315 was in the average range as well. Additionally, I pursued my master's degree shortly after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a lot of uncertainty. Many colleges were still uncertain about their admissions policies and the number of students they could accept, which contributed to the overall confusion and may have influenced their decisions. That said, I’d like to highlight that despite having an average GPA, I managed to secure a 50% scholarship along with a monthly stipend, which meant I only had to pay about $4,000 per semester for my entire education while also being able to pay for my own rent and other expenses. Thanks to my strong research projects, internships, and international exposure (including conferences and a summer program), I was able to land both a research assistant and a teaching assistant position. I also believe that many of the colleges that rejected me didn’t focus on the areas of research I emphasized in my Statement of Purpose. I mentioned my interest in aerodynamics and my desire to pursue experimental work, but unfortunately, the programs I applied to didn’t have the facilities or projects aligned with my research goals. Virginia Tech is ranked 11th among the best aerospace universities in the U.S., outperforming many of the colleges I applied to, so an acceptance from them seemed like a no-brainer. I had also spoken to some seniors via LinkedIn who shared their positive experiences about the research and academics in the areas I’m interested in. The program’s structure, which requires students to take at least one course from each of the three specializations, is something I find extremely beneficial for broadening academic exposure. These specializations include Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics, Vehicle Structures, and Vehicle Dynamics and Controls. Interestingly, the textbooks I studied during my undergraduate in Aeronautical Engineering were written by professors from Virginia Tech. The university boasts an excellent alumni network, and it has a partnership with Boeing, one of the biggest aerospace companies. Through this partnership, they’ve developed their own campus and provided job opportunities, with a Virginia Tech alumnus even serving as the CEO. Virginia Tech holds a strong position in aerospace conferences, with its professors often serving as chairs for many sessions. The experimental aerodynamics research that I want to pursue is among the best at Virginia Tech, with substantial funding, facilities, and equipment to support it. Additionally, the fees are relatively lower since it’s a state-owned university in Virginia, and the city itself is ranked as one of the safest places to live in the U.S. I applied to Virginia Tech through their online portal, and the application fee was $75. I had to submit my school mark sheets and college transcripts, along with three letters of recommendation from my references, who provided the letters when requested. Additionally, I submitted my GRE and TOEFL scores as part of the application process. I applied through the Early Decision scheme, which meant I had to submit my application well before most other college deadlines. This is supposed to give me an edge over other applicants, although I’m not entirely sure how the selection process for early applications works. Virginia Tech requires a minimum TOEFL score of 90, with at least 20 in each section—Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. While the graduate program currently does not require GRE scores, submitting a high score, particularly in the quantitative section, is beneficial for being competitive with other applicants. They also have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.00 for undergraduate studies. I applied for the Fall 2021 intake. From what I read and also heard from others, graduating in May, which aligns with the fall intake, offers better job opportunities. In contrast, students who join in the spring usually graduate in December, which falls during the holiday season in the U.S. Hiring tends to slow down around that time, and most companies wait until after their Q1 financial report (around March), before making significant hires. I submitted my application at the end of November and received my acceptance by February 3rd, so the entire process took about three months....Read More

It's an amazing job outlook. It is very perfect for friend making. It has an amazing football team. The parties were good. The campus life is good. You never feel alone and people will always be around if you need anyone....Read More

I genuinely enjoy my experience at Virginia Tech. I’m very comfortable here and I like the athletics and the food....Read More

I chose this university as their cybersecurity program appealed to me and I am a in-state student and it was in state college for me. When I first started I wasn't too fond of it as it was covid but as time grew and I made friends and explored campus it really grew on me and now I love it....Read More

Virginia Tech is the campus of inventing the future, and the future lies in the potential of the students. I have been accepted early-decision into Virginia Tech and will major in broadcast journalism and plan to minor in psychology with a long-term goal of being a reporter. One of the main reasons why I fell in love with Virginia Tech is because of the school's motto, 'That I may serve. Throughout my high school career, I have inspired others to get their stories heard through journalism as well as inspire others to give back to the community. Virginia Tech is the perfect school to continue these passions both on campus, and into the future. Virginia Tech is expanding its communication studies major at just the right time for me to take advantage of all there is to offer. From state-of-the-art equipment to the best connections possible, a multimedia journalism major is very versatile and I believe that Virginia Tech is one of the best places I could ever gain these skills from. The 'Hokies-Hiring-Hokies' program makes me confident that I will have the resources provided to me to be successful even after graduation. Being able to communicate with people is a crucial part of being a journalist. Virginia Tech is the perfect campus for me and I am beyond excited because they provide plentiful opportunities to get involved through leadership in the field of journalism to create positive change. I will use the experiences I have gained throughout my high school career to step up and continue to make a difference on campus and in the future. I am confident that I will leave Virginia Tech as a stronger student with all of the resources I need to excel as a reporter in the field of multimedia journalism....Read More